The Five Greatest Dempsey Performances

Because it was perceived as such at the time and there's no doubt he was a worthy contender.

 

Maybe not but then again a victory over maddalone today wouldn't be seen as a victory over a top 5 heavyweight.

 

I would need to do some research but his best performance is surely Firpo...

 

I think that is exactly my point.

 

Top 5:

Willard - On film
Fulton - Was filmed, not known to exist today
Miske - Not sure if it was filmed.
Gibbons - On film
Firpo - On film.

 

I agree with you I just like to rank fighters relative to their era within that eras context so whilst allowing for the anomalous consideration of victories over great fighters on an equal playing ground.

So for me a victory over firpo then means more than a victory over maddalone now. That might well point to a weak era but that is supposition, what isn't is that firpo was a major heavyweight contender whilst maddalone was a gate keeper.

 

Your last sentence is precisely what I was thinking.

 

I think you forget that Firpo fought in black and white. :yep

 

Colour did not exist until the 1940s!